Whereas startup funding globally fell final yr, New Zealand enterprise capital funding was nonetheless on the rise, with NZ$726 million poured into 154 offers in 2022, based on the Expertise Funding Community (TIN).

The Expertise Funding Report, launched in Auckland as a part of Techweek 2023, covers funding Pre-Seed to Sequence C+, monitoring file ranges of funding during the last two years. It was compiled with help from the ASX, NZ Progress Capital Companions (NZGCP) and BNZ, alongside native VC and angel funding companies.

As world enterprise funding fell between 32-35% in 2022, funding for NZ tech grew by 8.2% final yr, pushed by offshore-led funding, which surpassed NZ$400 million, up from $288m in 2021.

Offshore buyers led 26 of the 154 offers at a median of NZ$15.5m per increase, accounting for 55% of complete capital raised in 2022.

One other $268m was injected into native tech firms by onshore buyers throughout 102 offers, with undisclosed personal buyers contributing an extra $59m throughout the remaining 26 offers.

Deeptech shines

Report writer and TIN’s head of analysis, Alex Dickson, mentioned the rise of native buyers was additionally notable previously yr.

TIN’s Alex Dickson

“Traditionally, entry to capital has been the problem for Kiwi tech firms, however the quantum of funding we at the moment are seeing suggests there has by no means been a extra thrilling time to be a part of the ecosystem,” he mentioned.

“There’s no scarcity of extremely eligible tech startups in New Zealand, and because of a now vibrant home funding circuit, many can and do discover buy on the early levels. That mentioned, our funding pool nonetheless stays shallow in comparison with different small, superior economies – the likes of Finland, Eire and Estonia.

“As at all times, Kiwis must work tougher to draw the lengthy arms and deep pockets of overseas buyers. 2022 exhibits that even a small variety of offshore-backed offers can actually flip the dial for the ecosystem as a complete.”

Dickson mentioned that whereas software program options proceed to seize the lion’s share of funding, ldeeptech firms secured practically 1 / 4 (22%) of the capital raised, totalling NZ$162m.

“With equally encouraging indicators from healthtech ($71m) and cleantech funding ($27m), there’s an air of sophistication about homegrown innovation at current,” he mentioned.

“As long as capital continues to satisfy our world-class engineering expertise, and people success tales are exported, there’s no motive New Zealand can’t compete and win on the reducing fringe of tech.”

Promise for girls in tech

Girls-led tech raised NZ$3.4 million per deal in 2022, however that’s just a little over half of their male-led counterparts, who averaged $5.2m per deal.

And gender imbalance was equally pronounced with feminine tech founders or cofounders accounting for simply over 1 / 4 (27%) of all capital raises.

However to Aotearoa’s credit score, on the subject of established tech, feminine CEOs lead 16 of the nation’s high 200 exporting companies by income.

James Pinner, chief funding officer at NZGCP, believes the present financial local weather affords huge alternative as crises are likely to consequence within the biggest durations of innovation.

“Now could be the time to create and construct the subsequent era of progressive New Zealand applied sciences and the nation has deep sufficient home capital swimming pools to help this,” he mentioned.

Nonetheless, Pinner was pragmatic about what lay forward for the funding panorama

“The New Zealand enterprise capital funding house has undoubtedly modified over the previous few years,” he mentioned.

“As we’ve additionally seen globally, the quantity of capital obtainable for funding elevated considerably via to 2022 however this seems to have been the height and we’re virtually actually in for a a lot more durable few years forward.”

Blair Harrison, head of New Zealand listings at ASX, mentioned the forecast for Kiwi know-how firms continued to look vibrant, pushed by investor urge for food from Australia, New Zealand and additional afield.

“New Zealand tech firms are properly revered globally, famend for his or her innovation and extremely expert and integrous administration,” he mentioned.

“ The pipeline of know-how firms making ready to checklist on ASX stays sturdy and we count on to see New Zealand tech proceed to thrive on ASX over the subsequent few years.”

Digital copies of the 2023 Expertise Funding Report can be found through the TIN web site.